Grain-drier.



L. J. DENNIS.

GRAIN DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1912.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

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GRAIN DRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1912.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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L. J. DENNIS.

GRAIN DRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1912. 1,0843732. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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LEE JACKSON DENNIS, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

GRAIN-DRIER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE J. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grain driers and one object of the invention is to dispose the heating pipes and deflect ing plates inside the drier in such a manner that the grain will be given a zig-zag path downward in very thin streams; and a further object is to remove the moisture given out by the grain, not only along the sides of the apparatus, but also simultaneously from the middle thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1, shows an end elevation of the drier proper partly in section and with the lower cover plate removed; Fig. 2, is a cross section thereof along lines 22 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the side plate partly removed in the left half of the figure; and the right half of the figure is a section on line 33 of Fi 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a plan View of the drier with the top removed.

The drier is made up of sections of pipe 10, ordinary gas pipe being suitable, the ends of which are connected by return bends 11,so as to form continuous 'coils with inlet 12 and exhaust 13, steam being the heating element. The drier may have any number of these coils, eight layers being shown in the illustrations, which are supported by the end plates 14: and a rectangular frame work 15, preferably constructed of angle and channel irons of suitable size. In order to prevent all leakage of the steam inside this frame work, all bends and joints of the pipes are located outside the end plates 1a, which arrangement also makes repairs convenient. The pipes do not fit tightly in the end plates and therefore permit moisture to escape around them.

The rows of pipes are staggered, so that an upper row will cover the space between the pipes in the nearest row below. Along the sides of the frame work are positioned a series of deflection plates 16 which slightly overlap each other. These plates serve the double purpose of throwing the falling grain inward, back on the pipes, and of leading the moisture, drawn from the grain,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1912.

Patented Jan. 2o, 191 i.

Serial No. 700,341.

out from the inner part of the apparatus. To collect this moisture an outer casing 17 is built around the frame work. The end plates of this casing are bolted on so as to be removable in order to facilitate the repair of the pipe joints. An air space about 3 inches wide is formed all around the frame work by this outer easing, into which the moisture escapes.

To remove the moisture from the middle of the apparatus are provided a couple of inverted V-shaped troughs 18, which each are hung over three of the pipes 10 and extend the whole length of the machine. The angular part of the trough is rounded and fits snugly over one of the central. pipes. A triangular opening 19 is cut in the end of the plates 14; at each end of the troughs 18, so that all moisture collected under the troughs will be led out to the vent or air space at the ends of the drier. This is one of the essential features of the invention, causing a more perfect and quicker drying than ordinarily would be the case, as without these invented V-shaped troughs or moisture collectors the moisture exuding from the grain in the middle of the machine, would have to find its way through the mass of grain lying on both sides; before it would pass out bet-ween the deflectors 16 into the vent.

The V-shaped troughs 18 also serve as central deflectors for the grain falling thereon.

The vents are closed at the top by collecting drums 20 which are inclined upward toward one end of the drier, where they are joined into one and connect with the stack 21. The natural draft through the vents, drums and the stack is su'flicient to carry away the moisture. Any dripping of coinlensed moisture is collected in the bottom of the stack and removed.

A receiving hopper 2'2 filled from above is situated at the top of the drier. A net 23 is stretched across it for collecting husks of straw which may then be removed through the door 24:.

The bottom of the drying chamber is made up of three cut off slides 25 running in suitable guides. These slides cover the entrance of the drawing ofi' hopper 26 which extends the Whole length of the drier. At the lower end of this hopper is placed a corru ated feed roll 27 and a gate 28. This gate is held down by means of a number of weights 29, and from the adjustment of the weights and at the top ot'the hopper 22 untilth'e drier i's fille'd. On passing downward, the grain is'first intercepted by the-net 23, which (301- le'cts allthe "husks, cobs, sticks or straw that might be *mixed with the grain. Farther down the descending grains will bethrown to rightand left as they strike the intervening pipes, deflecting plates, or the sides of the troughs, so that the grain will run down in 'thin/zig-"zag streams ofnot more than 1.

inch thickness. hen the grain has been thoroughly heated'so that the moisture'fro'm the grain is carried awaythroughthe'openings between the deflectors '16, around the pipes in the endplates 14 'andthe end openings 19 of the inverted troughs 18, and transferred by way of the drums 2O tothe stack 21; the bottom slides 25 are opened admitting the hot grain into the hopper. By

.proper adjustment ofthe weights 29 on the gate -28 and the speed of the'roll 27 a continuous stream of steaming hot corn will then be drawn off.

As the device is of'comparativ'ely small dimension, it may equally well be set up inside or outside a building.

When the device is working continuously, that is, when the receiving hopper 22 is kept filled, no heat will escape'through the top ofthe hopper, as it will all be taken up by the closely packed'grain therein. And the grain will not be sutficiently heated to exude any moisture until it has reached the pipes in the heating chamber, through which it proceeds in thin streams downward and every single grain comes in contact with the hot'pipes.

The inventor, although having described the device for drying grain, does not-thereby limit the use'thereof to grain only, as the invention is equally well applicable for dry ing all kinds of cereals as well as'flour, salt, sugar and any other substance of similar character.

I claim:

1. Ina grain drying device having a heating chamber, a stack for said chamber, said chamber having double walls forming vents all around the chamber, the inner walls of the,chamber being provided with a plurality of openings to said vents, downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls, partly covering said openings and forming gateways for passing moisture from said chamber to the surrounding vents, drums forming the top of said vents and inclined so as to carry the moisture from the vents to the stack.

2. In a grain drying device having a heating chamber provided with double walls forming ventsall around the chamber, the

inner walls of the chamber having a plurality of openingsto said vents, downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said open ings and forming gateways between said chamber andthe surrounding vents; inverted V-shaped troughs running parallel and connecting the two end walls or said chamber and situated in the central part of the chamber; said end walls having triangular openings conforming in shape with the cross section of and registering with said troughs.

3. In a grain drying device having a heating chamber provided with double walls 'forming vents all around the chamber, the

inner walls'of the chamber having a plurality of openings to said vents; downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said openings and forming gateways between said chamber and the surrounding vents, inverted \l-shaped troughs running parallel and connecting the two'end walls of said chamber andsituated in the central part of the chamber; inner walls of the chamber having openings at each end of 'sa'idtroughs, whereby moisture collecting under the troughs will'be led out into said vents.

4. In a grain drying device having a heating -chamber *provided with double walls forming vents all around the chamber, the inner walls or the chamber having aplurality of openings to said vents; downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said openings "and forming gateways between said chamber and the surrounding vents; a plurality'of straight pipes within said chamber, bends connecting thefends of the pipes, said-bends being situated in said vents, the

pipes and the bends forming a continuous duct forthe heating medium; said pipes being distributed in a'plurality of horizontal layers and offset relative to each other, providing zig-Zag positioned obstructions for the falling gram.

5. In a grain drying device having a heating chamber provided with double walls forming vents all around the chamber, the inner walls of the chamber having a plurality of openings to said vents; downwardly inclined deflecting, plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said openings and forming gateways between said chamber andthe surroundmg vents; a plurality of straight plp'es withln said chainber, bends connecting the ends of the pipes, said bends being situated in said vents, the pipes and the bends forming a continuous duct for the heating medium; said pipes and said deflecting plates being so located in the chamber that they compel the grain entering at the top to take a zig-zag course through the chamber and run in thin streams.

6. In a grain drying device having a heating chamber provided with double walls forming vents all around the chamber, the inner walls of the chamber having a plurality of openings to said vents; downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said openings and forming gateways between said chamber and the surrounding vents, a plurality of straight pipes within said cham ber, bends connecting the ends of the pipes, said bends being situated in said vents, the pipes and the bends forming a continuous duct for the heating medium; said pipes and said deflecting plates being so disposed that the axes of any three adjoining pipes are situated in the points of an equilateral triangle.

7. In a grain drying device having a heating chamber provided with double walls forming vents all around the chamber, the inner Walls of the chamber having a plurality of openings to said vents; downwardly inclined deflecting plates on the inside of said inner walls partly covering said opening and forming gateways between said chamber and the surrounding vents; a plurality of straight pipes within said chamber, bends connecting the ends of the pipes; said bends being situated in said vents, the pipes and the bends forming a continuous duct for the heating medium; said pipes and said deflecting plates being so disposed that the axes of any three adjoining pipes are situated in the points of an equilateral triangle; inverted V-shaped troughs carried on the adjoining pipes and adapted to form conductors for moisture from the central part of the chamber to the vents.

The foregoing specification signed at Memphis, Tenn., this third day of May 1912.

W. B. EDRINGTON, A. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

